Dance With Who Brung You
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have read in a post or two that I don’t like to cook. Thankfully my husband Eric doesn’t mind too much being the house chef. However, we agreed Sunday dinner is my one night to cook. To make cooking my Sunday meal more fun, I listen to upbeat music on my iPod. I dance around the kitchen as I measure, chop and sauté and I sing at the top of my lungs. Poor Eric.
Last night I was listening to Asleep at the Wheel – a Texas swing band. It brought me right back to my college days when my male friends from Montana taught me how to swing dance. I was wishing Eric wasn’t tinkering in the garage so that we could dance. But I digress.
One of the songs on the album is “Dance with Who Brung You”. As I listened to it I thought it applied to a few etiquette guidelines. The song is about being happy with who you’re with or with what you have. Here is the chorus:
“You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you, don’t be a fickle fool. You came here with a gal, who’s always been your pal, don’t leave her for the first unattached girl, it just ain’t cool.”
Etiquette guideline number one. When you’re meeting with someone, whether a friend, client or colleague, don’t answer your phone or check your email. As I said in a Clise Etiquette Fan page post, it’s like saying to the person in front of you “this person is more important/attractive/fun/etc. You don’t mind sitting there watching me while I talk on the phone to them do you?”
Etiquette tip number two. If you’ve accepted an invitation to attend a party or function of some sort and you later get invited to a party or function for the same date and time that you’d rather attend, you’ve got to dance with the first date and turn down the “better” date. That’s being kind and honorable; two keys to being a mannerly person.
Etiquette tip number three. This one is for anyone who is dating. When you find that special someone, don’t forget your pals; the ones who listened and were there for you as a single person. Love is grand, but so are good friends. Be sure you spend time with them.
I’d like to thank Asleep at the Wheel for the inspiration! And, the beautiful thing is not only was I inspired to write this blog post, but I created a yummy dinner – pictured below.
Red Beet Risotto with Mustard Greens and Goat Cheese
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I love Asleep at The Wheel! Thank you for the memories. YES, Yes, yes, dance with who brung you is important for the host and the guest to remember.